Shooting and accident on Stevenson cause huge traffic – NBC Chicago

Travelers in the Chicago area should expect traffic jams during the Fourth of July holiday on Wednesday morning, with several accidents and traffic jams already reported throughout the city.

Since 5 a.m. Wednesday morning, there have been at least three accidents that have caused significant delays, including a traffic jam on I-55, NBC 5 traffic reporter Kye Martin reported.

“Attention, Stevenson commuters,” Martin said. “Your highway is closed at Dan Ryan on one of the busiest days of the year.”

One of the accidents that caused delays and backups occurred in Hammond, Indiana, where Indiana State Police and Hammond authorities responded to a head-on collision southbound on Indianapolis Boulevard at 1:25 a.m. Indianapolis Boulevard was closed from 5th Avenue to Calumet Avenue, according to Martin. The roads were reopened at 6 a.m.

Two major accident investigations were conducted in Chicago following incidents that occurred during the night.

At approximately 2 a.m., Illinois State Police responded to a one-vehicle crash involving a gunshot victim on the ramp to northbound I-55 (Stevenson Expressway) between the Dan Ryan Expressway (I-90/94) and Cermak Road.

According to ISP, one person was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.

All lanes of the ramp and northbound I-55 were closed for hours as part of the investigation. The ISP said the roads reopened around 9 a.m., but there was significant congestion on Stevenson in the morning.

“If you try to get to Stevenson Airport, you’re stuck in traffic,” Martin said early Wednesday as traffic backed up nearly all the way to Midway Airport.

At around 2:20 a.m., a separate crash and shooting investigation was underway near Stony Island and 95th Street, where officers were called to a two-vehicle crash with two shooting victims, ISP said.

According to ISP, the driver of a tow truck had stopped to assist with an incident when an altercation and shooting occurred.

One victim was pronounced dead at the scene, ISP said. Another victim was taken to a nearby hospital with gunshot wounds.

According to ISP, all southbound lanes of Stony Island from 95th Street to Bishop Ford were closed. The lanes reopened around 8:45 a.m., ISP confirmed.

The traffic and congestion come on one of the busiest days for drivers: About 9.3 million drivers are expected to be on Illinois roads from Independence Day on July 4 through Monday, the Illinois Tollway said.

According to the Tollway Toll Authority, Wednesday will be the busiest day on Chicago’s roads, as 1.9 million motorists are expected to use I-294 that day.

According to AAA, more than 60 million people across the country will be traveling by car during the Fourth of July holiday, which begins Wednesday.

Both Chicago airports are also expected to see a lot of travel on Thursday, the Chicago Department of Aviation said. From Thursday to Monday, 1.7 million passengers are expected to pass through O’Hare and Midway international airports.